Over the years, Hoge Lumber has gone from a maker of brushes, to handling all sorts of wood related construction projects. They've worked on items from finished homes to items like pole barn trusses, laminated polls, and all sorts of custom millwork. They've even done wood restorations of historical structures. In the past few years, they have a most unusual sideline.. installing hardwood floors used by the worlds top athletes.
Company president John Hoge says the company sold bowling lanes in China for about 5 years, but the market really dropped. Since then they've been selling sports floors. The floors are actually made by a company in Michigan, with Hoge being the exclusive distributor in China. The foundation and some of the other materials used for the floors come from New Knoxville. Hoge's even sent local crews to help install their floors used in the Beijing Olympic Games.
Still, the company has made steps over the years to diversify, into all sorts of wood based products. The idea being that when one item they make isn't in big demand, another one might be.
Lately, Millwork has been a successful line of work for the company. Some of their work has a prominent place in the new Columbus Grove School. Sales and production manager Mike Burd says many people will see the finished school but they won't have any idea where wall panels made by Hoge, came from. Hoge's custom millwork can mean anything from a custom fit reception desk to decorative panels on the walls. Workers at Hoge say custom work like that done for the Columbus Grove schools, takes an exacting process.
The company has also built display cases for some of the top university athletic departments in the country. So next time you're at a local school or hospital, or checking out a display case half way across the country,you could be admiring the work of local craftsmen at Hoge.
